Buffalo Bills News - December 4, 2000

Buffalo suffers massacre [7:24 AM]Toronto Globe & Mail reports:
'"It was just like a snowball that kept getting bigger and bigger," Johnson said. "It just seemed that no one was picking up the slack."'

Eric the (not so) great [7:21 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'The Dolphins held wide receiver Eric Moulds, who came in with an NFL-high 84 catches, to a season-low-tying two catches for 31 yards. Bills quarterbacks Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie threw to Moulds only four times for the entire game. The two passes Moulds didn't catch were intercepted.'

Loss of Owens becomes Bromell's gain [7:17 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'The third-year defensive end, inactive the past seven games, made the most of his opportunity, contributing four tackles and his first sack of the season.'

Five keys to the game [7:17 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'The six sacks and three interceptions say it all. The Dolphins' defensive front did a tremendous job of getting pressure on Johnson and Flutie -- who combined to complete eight passes in 27 attempts -- by overpowering the Bills' offensive line.'

Dolphins chill the Bills [7:15 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"We've won up here, but never like this before," Dolphins left tackle Richmond Webb said of his team's biggest road victory against Buffalo since a 37-10 win in 1992. "I don't think anybody expected it to turn out like this."'

Fit Fiedler returns to winning form [7:14 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'The shoulder? No problem. The rookie on the road? No problem. The Buffalo cold? Really no problem. Fiedler, in fact, came out on the field before the game in a T-shirt and shorts.'

Healthy Smith keys attack [7:13 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'Smith's numbers weren't as gaudy Sunday, but his 100-yard outing on 28 carries was just fine for the Dolphins in a 33-6 rout of the Bills.'

Defense helps Bates rest easy [7:11 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"When you get into the 13th game of the season," he said, "and you're playing with the consistency we're playing with, nothing surprises us."'

Thomas can't play, but he can visit pals [7:10 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'Thomas said he visited with Bills owner Ralph Wilson, which is significant because there was some bad blood when Thomas was released after last season. Wilson apologized to Thomas earlier this year.'

Grading the Dolphins [7:09 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'It was a great effort that produced a winning result.'

Miami (10-3) controls AFC as Fiedler returns [7:08 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'In recent years, the Dolphins have had few December days like Sunday when they hammered the Buffalo Bills 33-6, matching their largest margin of victory in upstate New York.'

Defense enjoys a head-turning day [7:07 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'"I thought our defense probably played about as good as we can play," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "We came up with six sacks. We forced some turnovers."'

If you don't succeed (J.J.), try successor [7:06 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'What's happening now is that the Dolphins -- in the wake of their 33-6 victory Sunday afternoon on the road against Buffalo -- are an NFL sensation. What happened during Johnson's tenure, mostly, was disappointment.'

Thurman enjoys reunions [7:05 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'"When I retire, I want it to be as a Buffalo Bill, but right now I'm a Miami Dolphin."'

Report: Dolphins players 'mistrust' policies [7:05 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'According to the report, headlined "Do Dolphins gain from players' pain?" more than 10 current Dolphins and several current players said the club did not tell players the full extent of their injuries and risked their careers by pressuring them to play too early.'

Dolphins vs. Bills: Inside The Game [7:04 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'It was obvious to most fans that quarterback Rob Johnson was having very little success Sunday against the Dolphins, but Bills coach Wade Phillips didn't go with backup Doug Flutie until 2:12 left in the third quarter and Buffalo trailing 30-0.'

Dolphins take ball, jam it [7:02 AM]Orlando Sentinel reports:
'This was a Dolphins team that smelled blood: Some of the Bills` best run-stoppers were out with injuries, including linebacker Sam Cowart, the NFL`s leading tackler.'

Bills near kissing season goodbye [6:59 AM]Albany Times Union reports:
'Because the Bills are so bad off in tiebreakers (2-4 in the AFC East, 5-4 in the AFC), for them to have any chance, they would have to win all three of their games and the Jets, Ravens and Broncos would need to lose all three of their remaining games.'

Dolphins break ice in Buffalo [6:58 AM]USA Today reports:
'My unconfirmed hunch: The Dolphins would've been on the doorstep of their first division title in six years a lot sooner had Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson purged themselves earlier.'

That championship feel [6:57 AM]Fox Sports reports:
'Rarely have the people of Western New York ever seen a team dominate their hometown heroes in their own building since, well, since the last time the Dolphins won here.'